Brake



June 27, 1950 E. J. slMANEK 2,512,686

Filed March 6,l 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 27, 1950 E, J, slMANEK 2,512,686

BRAKE Filed March 6, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 C2@ .1A M.

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E. J. SIMANEK BRAKE T r L 4 n n /I 2 3 Z vZ 3 w\\\\\\\.\\\\.\\\\\\\wv 3 M n L n.110- ev .I T\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ #(l .J J 0 5F i .5: #1| C June, 27, 1950 Filed March 6, 1947 Patented June 27, 1950 BRAKE Edward J. Simanek, Chicago, Ill., assigner to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,673

My invention relates to brake rigging for a railway car truck.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and compact brake mechanism in which the parts are readily accessible and so arranged as to meet all of the service requirements for successful operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a railway car truck with an improved brake mechanism, wherein each side of the truck is provided with a unified brake structure and comprises a cylinder lever projecting outboardly of the side rail of the truck, a brake cylinder angularly positioned with respect to the side rail and connected to the outboard end of said lever, a bracket formed on one end of the side rail and formed and arranged to aiord a mounting connection for said cylinder at points disposed in close proximity to the longitudinal center line of said side rail so as to reduce to the minimum bending stresses imposed on the bracket during operation of the brake cylinder.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighter and cheaper mounting bracket for the cylinders of the brake rig-ging described.

A still further object of my invention is to design a, bracket which, in addition to supporting the power cylinder, aiiords a novel fourth point support for one of the brake beams of the rigging, and also provides a support and pivot f or the cylinder lever. l.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent upon consideration of the specification and the drawings, wherein parts are shown in certain views and eliminated in others to more clearly illustrate my invention.

Figures 1 and 1A are top plan views at opposite sides respectively of the transverse center line of a truck structure embodying the invention, only one half of the structure being shown inasmuch as it is symmetrical about its longitudinal center line.

Figures 2 and 2A are side elevations of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 1A, respectVely. f

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the structure, taken from the left as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of one leg of the cylinder mounting bracket, taken in the transverse vertical plane substantially as indicated by l'ne 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the side frame, the section being taken in the transverse vertical plane substantially as indicated by line 5-5 of Figure 1.

18 Claims. (Cl. 18S-56) Referring now to the drawings, the invention is shown with a truck structure comprising side rails or side frames 2, joined intermediate their ends by the spaced transoms 4, 4 serving as the usual means of support for the bolster (not shown) which may be conned therebetween and which serves as a bearer'for the supported car body. The side rail is spring-supported from an equalizer 5 shown in Figure 3, said equalizer comprising the usual column guides (not shown) at their ends affording a connection in the conventional manner with journal boxes (not shown) serving as the usual meansof connection to the journal portions of the wheel and axle assemblies 6 and 8.

Inasmuch as the brake mechanism and other parts are symmetrical about the longitudinal center line of the truck, the description willl be limited to one side thereof to clarify the description of the invention.

The side rail 2 is of box section comprising top and bottom walls I and 9 and inboard and outboard walls Il and I3 (Figure 5) and has integrally formed at one end a projecting bracket Il) comprising a pair of angularly related legs I2 and I4 with the leg I2 thereof fprojecting transversely of the side rail in a. direction inboardly of the truck while the leg I4 is formed in effect as a continuation of the side rail 2 and lies substantially in the longitudinal plane thereof. The leg I4' is relieved as at I6 to aord an offset portion I6 of reduced cross section. It will be observed in Figure 4 that the portion I8 is of box section and comprises spaced top and bottom walls 20 and 22, respectively tapering downwardly and upwardly (Figure 2) to a point outboard of the end of said side rail and has the spaced vertical inboard and outboard walls 24 and 26, said outboard wall 26 being positioned parallel and adjacent to but inboardly of the longitudinal center line` of the side rail indicated at A-A (Figures 1 and 1A). In fact. the inboard ends of the walls 20 and 22 lead out of the walls 1 and 9 of the side rail and the walls 24 and 26 are extensions of the inboard and outboard walls II and I3 of said side rail 2, the wall 26 being laterally offset with respect to the .side rail wall I3.

Integrally joined to the outboard face of thev wall 26 of the leg I4 is the vertical cylinder mounting plate 28, said plate aring above and below the said top and bottom walls 26 and 22 o-f the offset portion I8, and the juncture between the wall 26 and the plate 28 is reinforced by the vertical ribs or gussets 32, 32.

vided in the said plate 28, and between the cylinder bracket 38 and the plate 28 is positioned a wedge or filler block 42 (Figure 1), said block be ing tapered with the taper pointing toward the outboard extremity of the portion I8 and seating the cylinder in a diagonal position with respect to the center line of the side rail, thus causing the piston stem or rod 44 thereof to assume a position outboard of the side rail where it is connected as at 45 to the outboard end of the horizontal dead lever 46, the said lever 46 extending through the horizontal slot 41 provided in the base of the bracket where it joins the side rail 2 and extends between the spaced horizontal walls 48 and 49 of the jaw portion 50 integrally formed with the said leg I4 and the base portion of the bracket on the inboard sides thereof and is seated between the opposed bosses 52, 52 formed on the adjacent surfaces of the walls 48 and 49. The lever 46 is pivoted at a point adjacent its inboard end as at 54 by a pin extending through said walls 48 and 49. The inboard extremity of the lever 46 is pivotally connected as at 56 (Figure 1) to clevis means 58 which in turn are connected as aat 60 to the upper end of the live truck lever 62, the live truck lever being positioned adjacent one side of the wheel and axle assembly 6 and being pivoted at its lower end as at 64 to the fulcrum 66 which is in turn connected to the brake beam 68. The brake beam comprises a trunnion end supporting a. brake head 10 carrying a brake shoe 12 adaptable for engagement with one side of the adjacent wheel of the assembly 6, said brake head -being provided with a brake head balancing device 14. To the trunnion end of the beam 68 is also pivoted the lower end of a hanger 16, said hanger being pivoted at its upper end as at 18 between the depending lugs 19 (Figure l) integrally formed on the underside of the leg I2. The beam is also fulcrumed as at 80 to the lower end of the balance hanger 84 pivoted at its upper end as at 86 to the bracket 88, said bracket 88 being integrally formed with the leg I2 of the bracket I0 and extending from the inboard end thereof in a direction diagonally outwardly of the end of the truck, the bracket |0 thus affording a fourth point support for the said brake beam 68.

The live truck lever 62 is pivoted intermediate its ends as at 89 to one end of the pull rod 00, said pull rod passing over the axle of the adjacent wheel and axle assembly 6 and being connected at its other end to the live truck lever 02 as at 94 intermediate the ends thereof. The lower end of the live truck lever 92 is pivoted to the fulcrum 96 on the brake beam 08, said brake beam having a trunnion end pivoting the brake head |00 with the brake shoe |02 adaptable for engagement with the opposite side of the wheel and axle assembly 6, the brake head |00 having a balancing device |03. The brake beam 98 is supported by the brake hanger |04, said hanger being pivoted at its lower end to the trunnion of the brake beam 98 and at its upper end pivoted as at |06 to the truck frame. The brake beam 98 is provided with an additional fulcrum |08 positioned on the beam intermediate the trunnion end and the midpoint thereof. To the fulcrum |08 is pivoted as at ||0 the lower end of the balance hanger ||2, said balance hanger being pivoted at its upper end as at ||4 to a bracket I|6 carried by the adjacent transom 4,

The upper end of the live truck lever 92 is pivotally and adjustably connected as at ||8 to one end of the pull rod I 20, said pull rod passing over the said transoms`4, 4 and being guided thereon by the brackets |22, |22 mounted on the respective of said transoms 4. The other end of the pull rod is pivoted to the upper end of the live truck lever |24 as at |25 and has a series of openings therein affording an adjustable connection between the pull rod and the said lever |24. The lower end of the live truck lever |24 is pivoted to the fulcrum |26 on the brake beam |28, said brake beam having a trunnion end supporting a brake head |30, the brake head carrying a shoe |32 for engagement with one side of the wheel and axle assembly Il, the said brake head also being provided with a balancing device |33.

At the point of connection between the brake head |30 and the brake beam |28, the brake bean'.

lto the truck frame as at |36. The beam |28 is provided with an additional fulcrum |38 which is pivoted to the lower end of the balance hanger |40, the upper end of said auxiliary hanger |40 being pivoted as at |42 to the bracket |44, carried by the adjacent transom 4.

Intermediate the ends of the live truck lever |24 is pivoted one end of the pull rod |46, said pull rod passing over the axle of the adjacent wheel and axle assembly 8 and being connected at the other end as at |48 to the dead truck lever |50 intermediate the ends thereof, the lower end of said dead truck lever being pivoted as at |52 to the fulcrum |54 carried by the brake beam |56, said beam mounting on the trunnion end thereof a brake head |58 provided with balancing means |60 and carrying a brake shoe |64 for engagement with the adjacent side of the wheel and axle assembly 8, said beam being pivoted at its point of connection with the brake head to the lower end of the brake hanger |66, said brake hanger being pivoted as at |68 to the truck frame. The

beam |56 is provided with an additional fulcrum |10, the said fulcrum being pivoted as at |12 to the lower end of the balance hanger |14, the

upper end of said hanger being pivoted to the bracket |16 as at |18, said bracket being integrally formed with the side rail 2 and projecting inbroadly therefrom.

The upper end of the dead truck lever |50 is pivoted as at |10 to the clevis means |80, the other end of said clevis means being pivoted as at |82 (Figure 1A) to the inboard end of the horizontal lever |84 pivoted -intermediate the ends thereof to the truck frame as at |86 and extending through a, slot |88 in said side rail 2. The other end of said horizontal lever |84 extends outbcardly of the truck and is pivoted as at |90 to the automatic slack adjuster designated |02.

The operation of my brake mechanism will not be discussed inasmuch as it is believed that the same is apparent from the drawings.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a. truck frame including a side rail, spaced wheel and axle assemblies disposed in supporting relation to said frame, brake rigging for said assemblies includatrasos ing interconnected truck levers, abrake beam carried by each lever and supporting friction means for engagementwith the assocated assembly, an integral bracket on one end of said side rail and comprising a pair of angularly related legs', one of which extends outwardly of one end of said truck substantially in alignment with said side rail longitudinally thereof and isprovided with a mounting wall oiset inboardly of the outboard surface of said side rail and disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to the vertical plane bisecting said side rail longitudinally, the other leg of said bracket extending transversely of said side rail inboardly of the truck, suspension means connected to the other leg and the adjacent of said beams, power means mounted on said wall comprising a cylinder with a piston stem directed toward the adjacent end of said side rail, a wedge block between said wall and cylinder positioning the latter diagonally with respect to said side rail with said stem adjacent the outboard side of said side rail, and a dead cylinder lever extending through an opening in said side rail and pivoted intermediate its ends to said other leg inboardly of said side rail and at its outer extremity extending outwardly of the ouboard side of said side lrail and connected to said stem and at its inner extremity being connected to the adjacent of said truck levers.

2. In a railway car truck, a frame structure including a side rail, supporting wheel and axle assemblies, brake rigging for said assemblies including brake beams at opposite sides o f each assembly carrying brake means for engagement with the associated assembly, a truck lever connected to each beam, means operatively interconnecting said levers, a bracket at oneA end of said side rail comprising a pair of angularly related legs, one of said legs extending longitudinally of the truck outwardly from the adjacent end of said side rail and having a substantially vertical mounting wall offset inwardly of the longitudinal center line of said side rail, power means mounted on said wall comprising a cylinder disposed angularly with respect to said side rail and having a stem adjacent the outboard side of said side rail, a dead cylinder lever directly connected at one end to said stem and at the other end to one of said truck levers, and suspension means for the adjacent of said beams connected to the other leg.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a box-section longitudinal side rail having top and bottom and inboard and outboard walls, spaced wheel and axle essemblies supporting said frame, brake rigging including brake beams at opposite sides of each of said assemblies and interconnected truck levers connected to respective beams, a bracket having a base portion xed to one end of said side frame and having a leg projecting outwardly of one end of said truck and lying in the longitudinal plane of said side frame and being of box section and having top and bottom and inboard and outboard walls, said outboard wall of said leg being oiset inboardly of said outboard wall of said side rail and lying in close proximity to the longitudinal center line of said side rail, said bracket having another leg extending inboardly of the truck transversely of said side frame, a -horizontal slot in said base portion extending transversely of said side rail, a dead cylinder lever connected at its inboard end to one of said truck levers and extending through said slot and pivoted inter- 6 y mediate its ends to said bracket. a cylinder device arranged in overlapping relation with said side rail transversely of the truck and mounted on said outboard wall of said ilrst-mentioned leg and angularly positioned with respect to said side rail and connected to said cylinder lever outboardly of said side frame, and means suspended at spaced points from said other leg and pivoted to the adjacent of said beams and aording a support therefor.

4. In a railway car truck, a side rail, a bracket connected to one end thereof and comprising a leg substantially in longitudinal alignment with said side rail and projecting outwardly of one end of said truck, said leg comprising a box-section portion of reduced cross section as compared to that of said side rail, said portion having an outboard wall offset inboardly of and adjacent to the longitudinal center line of said side rail, an integral mounting plate on said wall, wheel and axle site sides of each wheel, means operatively connecting said truck levers, brake beams at oppositesides of each assembly and carrying brake means for engagement with said assemblies and connected to respective levers, another leg on said bracket extending laterally of said side rail and inboardly of said truck, brake beam supporting means connected to one of said brake beams and at spaced points to said last-mentioned leg, a cylinder device arranged in overlapping relation with said side rail and mounted on said plate, a substantially horizontal dead cylinder lever projecting outboardly of said truck through a slot in the base of said bracket and supported and pivoted thereon intermediate its ends and connected at its inboard end to the adjacent of said truck levers and at its outboard end to said device.

5. In a brake arrangement for a railway car truck, a frame structure including a side rail, an integral bracket at one end of said side rail comprising a substantially vertical mounting surface disposed inboardly of the longitudinal center line of said side rail, power means mounted on said surface comprising an air cylinder angularly positioned with respect to said surface and having a piston stem extending in a direction toward said side rail adjacent the outboard side thereof, a dead cylinder lever connected at one end to said stem, and brake rigging for said truck connected to the other end of said lever.

6. In a brake arrangement, the combination of a truck frame including a side frame, wheel and axle assemblies disposed in supporting relation to said truck frame, brake rigging associated with said wheels for braking cooperation therewith, and operating means for said brake rigging including a horizontally disposed cylinder mounted inwardly of the outboard side of said side rail in partially overlapping relation therewith transversely of the truck. i

7. In a railway car truck, a truck frame in cluding a side rail, a wheel and axle assembly disposed in supporting relation to said truck frame, brake rigging associated with said wheels for braking cooperation therewith, and operating means for said brake rigging including a horizontally disposed cylinder mounted inwardly of the outboard side of said side rail and arranged in partially overlapping relationship therewith transversely of the truck, said cylinder being disposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal center line of said side rail.

8. In a brake arrangement, the combination of a, truck frame including a side frame, a cylin- `der bracket on one end of said side frame and aligned therewith and presenting 4a -cylinder mounting surface offset transversely Vof'said side' frame inwardly with respect to the outboard side thereof, wheel and axle assemblies disposed in supporting relation to said truck frame, brake rigging associated with said wheels for braking cooperation therewith, and operating means for said brake rigging including a cylinder device mounted on said bracket against said surface and positioned angularly with respect to the longitudinal vertical plane of said side rail.

nal alignment therewith and including a substantially vertical cylinder mounting wall on one side thereof offset inwardly with respect to the outboard side of said member, a power cylinder secured to said wall below the upper level of said frame, a dead cylinder lever connected at one end to the piston of said cylinder at a point outwardly of thekoutboardk side of said frame, and brake 9. In a brake arrangement, thek combination of a truck frame including a side frame, wheel and axle assemblies disposed in supporting relation to said truck frame, brake rigging associated with said wheels foi-"braking cooperation therewith, operating means for said brake rigging including a cylinder mounted partially inwardly of the outboard side of said side frame and arranged in overlapping relationship therewith transversely of said truck, a cylinder lever pivoted to said truck frame, one end of said cylinder lever being connected to said brake rigging and the other end thereof being connected to the piston of said cylinder, said cylinder being disposed diagonally with respect to said side frame to afford a connection between said piston and associated end of said cylinder lever at a point outwardly of the outboard side of said side frame.

10. In a brake arrangement, a truck frame including a, side rail, spaced wheel and axle assemblies disposed in supporting relation to said frame, brake rigging associated with said wheel and axle assemblies for braking cooperation therewith, a power cylinder support on said rail comprising a portion on said rail projecting from one end thereof, said portion providing a mounting surface oiiset transversely of said side rail inwardly of the outboard side thereof, a substantially horizontally disposed power cylinder mounted on said portion against said surface, and means between said surface and cylinder positioning the latter diagonally` with respect to said side rail, said cylinder operating in the direction of one of said assemblies.

11. In a brake arrangement, spaced wheel and axle assemblies, a side frame supported on said assemblies and comprising a longitudinally extending member with a brake cylinder carrier at one end thereof, said carrier having a leg projecting from said member in substantially longitudinal alignment therewith and including a cylinder mounting wall on one side thereof offset inwardly with respect to the adjacent side of said member and lying adjacent the longitudinal center line of said member, a power cylinder disposed byond the end of said member and secured to said wall whereby said cylinder is caused to be positioned in partially overlapping relation with ing from said member in substantially longitudi.

means operatively associated with said assemblies for braking engagement therewith and operatively connected to said cylinder lever for actuation thereby.

13. In a. brake arrangement, a, side frame having at one end thereof a brake cylinder carrier comprising a web offset inwardly of the outboard side .of said frame, a wedge seated against said web, a cylinder partially offset inwardly of the outboard side of said frame and diagonally positioned with respect thereto and seated against said wedge and secured therewith to said web, a power transmitting link extending transversely of said side frame and fulcrumed intermediate its ends to said carrier and operatively connected at a point outwardly of the outboard side of said frame to said cylinder, and brake rigging for said truck connected to said link inwardly of said point.

14. In a railway car truck, a side rail, a bracket connected to one end thereof and comprising a leg substantially in longitudinal alignment with said side rail and projecting outwardly of one end of said truck, said leg comprising a box-section portion of reduced cross section relative to that of said side rail, said portion having an outboard wall odset lnboardly of and adjacen to the longitudinal center line of said side rail, and a vertical cylinder mounting plate integrally formed on said outboard wall.

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame including a side rail at its upper extremity, an integral bracket at one end of said side rail and including a leg positioned in longitudinal alignment with said side rail and extending outwardly of one end of said truck, said leg comprising an offset portion with a vertically disposed cylinder mounting plate, a cylinder exending at one side inwardly of the outboard side of said side rail and mounted on said side on said plate adjacent the longitudinal center line of said side rail, said cylinder including a piston stem and means insertable between said side of said cylinder and plate for positioning the former diagonally with respect to said side rail for positioning the piston stem of said cylinder outboardly of said side frame.

16. In a railway car truck, a side rail, a bracket at one end thereof and including a leg in longitudinal alignment with said side rail and extending outboardly of one end of said truck, said leg carrying a vertically disposed cylinder mounting plate laterally offset inboardly with respect to the outboard side of said side rail.

17. In a brake arrangement, a side frame, a cylinder support -at one extremity thereof, a cylinder mounted on said support and diagonally positioned with respect to said frame, a cylinder lever extending transversely through said frame and pivoted intermediate its ends to said frame and operatively connected at one of its ends to said cylinder outwardly of one side of said frame,

and brake rigging for said truck connected to said lever outwardly of the opposite side of said frame.

18. In a railway car truck, a side frame having a portion offset inwardly with respect to its outboard side, a horizontal cylinder disposed diagonally of said frame in overlapping relationship 9 I 10 therewith transversely of said truck and secured UNITED STATES PATENTS to said portion. and brake rigging for said truck Number N operatively connected to said cylinder at a. point 1 953 319 Taymn 11??21934 outwardly of theoutboard side of said fra-me. 2372509 Tack Apr. 8" 1941 l EDWARD J' 6 2,431,579 Mueller Nov, 25, 1947 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi' this patent: 

